Um, it is.

Our senior players, particularly those in the pack, are lazy and/or past it. Those who aren't in the pack are either average or past it. We have no halves - our remaining fit six having been shipped off to Salford. We are reliant upon young players in too many positions. And all that is made worse by a coach who can't help messing around with the line up even when we don't get injuries.

On the matter of injuries, unless something happens during training, only Robes, Lomax and Meli should be missing when we play you (oh, and Wheeler, but he's never fit anyway so I no longer count him in the team, alas). They may be fit by then but Saints no longer communicate with fans about anything much, least of all injuries, so I have no idea whether or when they will be fit.

Hardaker
Keinhorst
Watkins
Moon
Hall
Sutcliffe
Sinfield
Bailey
McShane
Moore
JJB
Clarkson
Ablett
Subs
McGuire/Burrow
Kylie
Kirke
Achurch

We are still in good nick despite the lost to Hudds. The defence is the best it has been under McDermott by a mile and we don't struggle to make yards downfield, its just the final 20m so its not all panic stations yet. As I see it though I don't think you can have the following line-up and be great in both attack and defence....
6 - Sinfield
7 - McGuire
9 - Burrow

You can have good attack by trying to limit all 3 in defence but then we'll go back to leaking points like in 2012.
Or you can have good defence by asking Sinfield to step up in defence but at a cost to his efforts in attack.

This leaves us with effectively one fresh halfback to do something to break teams down. Burrow is at dummy half, Sinfield's energy is being spent on defending, so its all eyes on McGuire. If we had a traditional hooker then you'd see a massive positive knock on effect for both halves whoever plays there.

Either 3 options are available to address the attacking issues we're having.
A - Go back to 2012 style and limit Sinfield's load.....but watch as we ship more points.
B - Start McShane at hooker, meaning either McGuire or Burrow start at 7 with the other on the bench.
C - Go back to the old style of Sinfield at loose with the other 2 as starting halves.

Personally I don't want to see Sinfield back at loose because its a different role there and will still see our best kicker using up too much energy in tackling to be as effective as possible in attack. Option A should be a no go, so that leaves B, either McGuire or Burrow on the bench.

So if Danny gets a ban, do we stop burrow into the halves, put Ward there or put sutcliffe in. Seems a good opportunity

I think we would be better going with your option of Keinhorst and Watkins. Watkins came off the wing to get into the game, which is good and I think Keinhorst would be a stronger option than looking at a new winger.

Would be good to see Sutcliffe get a run out, but pick him if your going to play him at 20-30 minutes not the 12 minutes you give the spare forwards Brian.

Ward's injured isn't he? If not, he'd be my first choice in the halves. If he is then I'd be tempted to start Sutcliffe, with the option to move Burrow into the halves if Sutcliffe looks like he's struggling.

I'd go with:

1. Hardaker
2. Watkins
3. Ablett
4. Moon
5. Hall
6. Sinfield
7. McGuire (Sutcliffe if McGuire banned)
8. Leuluai
9. McShane
10. Peacock
11. JJB
12. Delaney (Achurch if Delaney injured)
13. Bailey

14. Burrow
15. Kirke
16. Achurch/Moore
17. Clarkson

Hardaker
Chisholm
Watkins
Moon
Hall
Sinfield
McGuire
Leuluai
McShane
Peacock
Jones-Buchanan
Clarkson
Ablett

Burrow
Bailey
Kirke
Achurch

I know Saints are in the mire at the minute but playing a guy who has only just dislocated his shoulder is taking the p**s ever so slightly out of them

No, but suggesting dropping proven international players just for the sake of blooding a youngster is laughable!

Unbelievable knee jerking on your part after a loss to the better side on the day at Huddersfield!

I'd go with;

Hardaker
Vickery
Watkins
Moon
Hall
Sinfield
Burrow
Leuluai
McShane
Peacock
Ablett
Achurch
Jones-Buchannan

Kirke
Bailey
Clarkson
Moore

I wouldn't play Vickery

I would certainly play him on the wing before Keinhorst. Don't see the issue, if that is our only other option.

There must be another option.....

5.4.3.2............